“The Wise Ones have strength, Rhiannon! They can break this man’s mind. They will break it unless you speak!”
And savagely triumphant now, “What will you do then? Creep into another man’s brain and body? You cannot, Rhiannon! For you would have done so ere now if you could!”
Across the pool Ironbeard said hoarsely, “I do not like this!”
But Emer went mercilessly on and now her voice seemed the only thing in Carse’s universe—relentless, terrible.
“The man’s mind is cracking, Rhiannon. A minute-more—a minute more and your only instrument becomes a helpless idiot. Speak now, if you would save him!”
Her voice rang and echoed from the vaulting rock of the cavern and the jewel in her hands was a living flame of force.
Carse felt the agony that convulsed that crouching shadow in his mind—agony of doubt, of fear—
And then suddenly that dark shadow seemed to explode through all Carse’s brain and body, to possess him utterly in every atom. And he heard his own voice, alien in tone and timbre, shouting, “ Let the man’s mind live! I will speak!”
The thunderous echoes of that terrible cry died slowly and in the pregnant hush that followed Emer gave back one step and then another, as though her very flesh recoiled.
The jewel in her hands dimmed suddenly. Fiery ripples broke and fled as the Swimmers shrank away and the wings of the Sky Folk clashed against the rock. In the eyes of all of them was the light of realization and of fear.